I have had my Phoenix Soft for a few months now and its been awesome!! It has gotten softer since I have rode it and is a really fun board to ride. The board has held up really well, (about 3 months of riding cable about 3 days a week)
Sorry for the giant pics

Let me know ur thoughts on this combo. Ive had a same combo for a bit now and Im not digging the removeable insoles on the Shanes vs my 11' Watsons and actually liked my watson hybrid behind boat vs the classic. My '12 setup has been sitting dry bc I keep taking my '11 setup out lol

I haven't ridden the Watson Hybrid or the new Watson for that matter but I really love the Classic. I switched from the Witness and the Classic definitely has more pop and is a little lighter. These are my first pair of LF bindings and I rode them on Friday for the first time and really liked them. I prefer to ride with my uppers loose so I took out the top laces and just use the strap on the top. They feel pretty comparable to my 2011 Ronix Ones minus the heat molding.

I think next year I might try the Watson Hybrid just for fun but I'll probably end up back on the Classic.

What don't you like about the liners?

I also had the '12 Harley for a few months but couldn't get consistent on it and didn't want to deal with the learning curve.

Im gonna go with either the 2012 O'Brien Baker with 2012 O'Brien Seekers, 2012 O'Brien Format with Seekers, 2012 O'Brien Contra with Nomads, and if all those fail me, I'll go with the trustful 2012 O'Brien Decade

Last edited by TBell; 04-05-2012 at 1:54 PM.
Reason: messed up wording

I don't really have any brand loyalty so I'm non biased on that basis. pppppeople helping people

Doesn't change the fact that you should know the company you are buying from and where your money is going, wouldn't you rather it go to a company that builds their stuff here, providing jobs for americans... AND using higher quality materials?

I buy my boards based on their performance. That trumps anything else. I ride my Slingshot because I like the way it rides and they way it holds up to abuse, not because it's made in the USA. If a brand like Slingshot starts making an inferior product, they deserve to go out of business. If Taiwanese-made boards ride better, I'll buy them instead.

Doesn't change the fact that you should know the company you are buying from and where your money is going, wouldn't you rather it go to a company that builds their stuff here, providing jobs for americans... AND using higher quality materials?

Who at this point manufactures there stuff in the US? I think its just Slingshot; do you have a link to where this is verified? (Not trying to challenge, just looking for the official info)

Damn Logan, you are a Downer. Stop bumming me out bro. Some of us don't have a consumer conscience, we ride what works or who our friends work for.

One might argue that because slingshot probably employs half the people that Hyperlite does, despite Hype's manufacturing being overseas, Hyperlite still likely employs more Americans than Slingshot (pure speculation there). Others just don't give a crap. But good luck on your crusade.

This goes along of the fact of u guys saying dont buy any car other an american product. I'll buy what suits me best and i like driving. Im not buying craftsman tools over others just bc theyre made or maybe not anymore made in the usa

The thing is, Logan, if you want American industry to be a true world-beater, in cars, wakeboards, or whatever else, you should support healthy competition. That's what drives innovation, improvement, and customer satisfaction, not blind patriotic loyalty.

American car makers needed to take a hit because they were ignoring changing consumer needs and skimping on quality. Now that they realize they can't count on loyalty to compensate for inferior products, they've kicked their asses back into gear and started making good cars again (well, most have). The same thing will happen to Kent if they start slacking, and that will be a good thing for the industry, the consumers (us!), and even Kent in the long run.

If you find a foreign-made board that's better than what Slingshot has to offer, buy it! Slingshot will get the message pretty quick. Luckily, we don't have to resort to that at the moment because Slingshot is still a kickass company making kickass products.

The thing is, Logan, if you want American industry to be a true world-beater, in cars, wakeboards, or whatever else, you should support healthy competition. That's what drives innovation, improvement, and customer satisfaction, not blind patriotic loyalty.

American car makers needed to take a hit because they were ignoring changing consumer needs and skimping on quality. Now that they realize they can't count on loyalty to compensate for inferior products, they've kicked their asses back into gear and started making good cars again (well, most have). The same thing will happen to Kent if they start slacking, and that will be a good thing for the industry, the consumers (us!), and even Kent in the long run.

If you find a foreign-made board that's better than what Slingshot has to offer, buy it! Slingshot will get the message pretty quick. Luckily, we don't have to resort to that at the moment because Slingshot is still a kickass company making kickass products.

I'm all for competition, but not dirty competition. When slingshot and company started becoming popular I thought what a great time for wakeboarding with new companies offering great gear at good prices. Then a company like LF (Kent) only sees it as a bad time for profits and goes all out to destroy company and slingshot too had it not been for kite tech licensing. So I guess my issue is not with people supporting companies that don't make stuff here but more with people who buy from those that do dirty business.

While I'm on the subject of Slingshots, here's my new ride, the 2012 Recoil. I've been using this ever since I broke my 2010 Recoil (see first page). It's a little heavier than the 2010, but much better made and still pops huge. Worth it!

Sorry for the crap quality. The file size limits on this site are a bitch!

I'm all for competition, but not dirty competition. When slingshot and company started becoming popular I thought what a great time for wakeboarding with new companies offering great gear at good prices. Then a company like LF (Kent) only sees it as a bad time for profits and goes all out to destroy company and slingshot too had it not been for kite tech licensing. So I guess my issue is not with people supporting companies that don't make stuff here but more with people who buy from those that do dirty business.

Your intentions are noble, but I think you're being naiive. You buy from plenty of companies that do dirty business, like the one that makes the computer you're typing these posts on. So do I. We all do. What Kent did was unfortunate and perhaps even morally dubious, but that's what big companies do. You don't get to the dominant position they're in by playing nice.

If you don't like it, don't buy from them. But condescendingly lecturing people who do buy from them is hypocritical.

I dunno if the picture one was a joke or not but that was from.my phone I thought the quality stunk! A lot of times though I don't post pictures I just put them in a private album on Facebook and IMG tag them.

I'm starting to take an interest in this Wakeology stuff. I think their Matrix bindings are the coolest looking boots I've ever seen. What does the board feel like compared to other companies' stuff? Any Wakeology riders here who wanna testify?

I'm starting to take an interest in this Wakeology stuff. I think their Matrix bindings are the coolest looking boots I've ever seen. What does the board feel like compared to other companies' stuff? Any Wakeology riders here who wanna testify?

que DFTR Josh

I wouldn't mind giving them a whirl myself too despite my established love for slingy. Wakeology is an Independent brand, locally close HQ, share my home lake (lake Powell) as a preferred lake... BUT i can never seem to coordinate with those guys as often as they come to my back yard. i don't keep a close enough eye on announcements that they are coming to powell. lack of communication too maybe.

Hammer ~ The boots are pretty much off the market with the whole lawsuit stuff going on, but they were a hot seller. I have heard people say the shapes do look like old boards but I have never really cared. I can't compare to other boards and how different they ride since I really only rode the Parks before riding the Wakeology. I would be happy to get anybody interested a demo but it's on my own dime and prefer local. But I do have the Stoke and Heritage that anybody can session and see what they think.
Jeremy ~ I will try and hit you up next time I'm down in Powell and let you give the boards a go.

Right on Josh. i am always hungry to ride with wake-passionate individuals

they may look "older," but not too different than many of the LF boards IMHO. a lot of the tried and true features that began with the LF trip that are being used today in one shape or form in at least one board in every brand. I know i have seen a couple prototype pics of a flex/ sandwich construction board from wakeology too for an example of something different in the works

Different feel? I just bought a pair at 35% off combined with the 2012 Watson board but had to order them I'm asking cuz I have 2010 Shane's but they are much heavier and was thinking the lighter board will be better for pop and axis tricks as I'm also riding a lf Lyman which is tank compared to the 2011 Watson combo but I'm definetly buy kinda blind and hoping I love it. I know it will look sick

Compared to those old shanes...yes theyll be lighter & more comfy. I have the '11 watsons and '12 shanes and had the '10 shanes you're talking about. Different feel in the heel cup area of the 11' vs '12 Watsons. Either way you have a great new setup

Here's my setup for 2012. Bought last years' (2011) models new for a good price. I'm loving the S4 so far. I'm undecided about the Transits. I feel like they're a tad loose and more flexible than I like. So I may switch back to my old 2010 Vantages which are borderline too tight--which is good I guess.

After an interesting process I have my 2012 deck and rode it twice today.

Had a hard time picking what I was going to ride this year. Pulled the trigger on a Harley Grind with Harley boots.

Love the pop from the 3 stage. This board is stiff. Haven't rode anything like it before. I also find it fast. I love how it tracks. My previous Ronix ride was brutal with how hard it tracked. It had no give. This is loose when u need it but it did very well to grab when edging.

Hopefully get a chance to test the grind base at the cable next week.

Had a tough time finally settling on a deck and this one is so different from my last it will take some getting used to. All I can say is supporting your local board shop is key to getting great service. My guys are top notch.